“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” The Sicilian proverb used as Kill Bill Vol. 2's tagline perfectly points out a tragic flaw shared by Shakespeare's Hamlet and Quentin Tarentino's modern hero: Bill (from Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2). In Kill Bill Beatrice is a killer belonging to a team of assassins lead by a man by the name of Bill. Beatrice and her master fall in love and one night while she is on a job, she discovers she is pregnant. She realizes the world of assassins is no place for a mother and makes the decision to leave the team and leave Bill. When Beatrice does not return to him, Bill searches everywhere for her, not willing to accept she may have been killed on the job. He finally finds her only to learn that she is pregnant and about to be married! From this, Bill derives his motivation for revenge. Hamlet obviously has more of a just cause to act on, where Bill, and really all the corrupt characters in his world, act based on selfishness. Though However much they may differ, their likeness is shown through choices made when taking their time in exacting revenge, when they let their situations drive them to madness, when they refuse to act without confirmation, and when they let their arrogance and need for revenge blind them. While similarities between Hamlet and Bill's moral standings are little to none, it is the element of revenge that reveals the shared traits that bring these men to their demise.
The realization that his lover had not only left him without a single word, but had only months later been knocked up and engaged to wed, sent Bill into a maddened outrage. He confronted Beatrice outside of the church where she, her soon to be husband, and all of his family were having a wedding rehersal...
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...etween dieing and watching the one he loves die. It seemed like more of a success to him that his love got to live, and he got to spend his last moments with her. However, that is not to be taken as acceptance of death (because right up until he was critically wounded, he wanted Beatrice dead) or admittance of wrongdoing. These characters definitely have only themselves to blame for their demise. The traits of these men that led them to make bad decisions are known as their tragic flaws. Nonetheless, these so-called flaws aren't necessarily horrible attributes and definitely don't make a person bad or flawed. In fact most human beings display all these qualities in some degree. This is why, no matter what generation, nationality, race, sex, or culture; past, present, or future, we will always be able to relate to, and learn a great deal about ourselves from tragedy.
Firstly, Shakespeare demonstrates the theme of revenge in the play’s soliloquies. The first soliloquy where Hamlet seeks for revenge occurs when he discovers from his father’s ghost that Claudius murdered his father. This information triggers Hamlet to determine a plan to get vengeance. In one part of this soliloquy Hamlet declares, “With this slave’s offal. Bloody, bawdy villain! / Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! / O vengeance! --” (II.ii.576-579). He wants Claudius
Humanity’s most motivational instinct is revenge. It is this inclination that is the catalyst which has brought about pivotal historical events forever shaping society today. Revenge is a defining characteristic of humans, intent on inflicting harm upon another who has wronged them in some way. It is this internal lust for reprisal which William Shakespeare explores in the play Hamlet to create the ultimate ambition of the protagonist. Each of Hamlet’s actions brings him closer to enacting his retaliation against his father’s killer. The repercussions of his actions, however, dramatically alter the storyline as other characters suffer and change, such as Ophelia, due to his actions. Hamlet’s carelessness in turn, creates
Throughout the entire story of Hamlet there was a main theme. Sons trying to get revenge for their father’s murders. Both Laertes and Hamlet thought that they must avenge their father’s murder, however, their murders could not have been more different. Hamlet’s father was murdered out of cold blood by his brother Claudius who wanted to be king. Polonius, however, was murdered by Hamlet thinking that he was Claudius. Polonius put himself into that predicament though by spying on Hamlet. Thereby Laertes was not so much justified in trying to kill his father’s murderer as misinformed about what really had happened. King Hamlet was a great man according to Hamlet and never did anything even remotely deserving of death. So Hamlet was better justified in his quest to get revenge for his father’s murder.
Vengeance. A vicious, violent way to make oneself feel better about an offense against them. Throughout the tragedy of Hamlet revenge is a recurring theme, amongst all of the characters. Whether this revenge is in physical form, or mental form, it is equally hurtful. Mahatma Ghandi said, “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.” Ghandi is literally saying that if one person commits a revengeful act, it will create a continuing reaction of bitterness and violence throughout everyone. This quote is highly significant throughout the duration of Hamlet, as it portrays almost precisely, both the plotline of the story, as well as the conclusion. From the murder of King Hamlet to the murder of Prince Hamlet the tragedy is filled with violent acts of revenge.
Revenge is one’s desire to retaliate and get even. Human instincts turn to revenge when loved ones are hurt. But, these misdeeds of taking upon revenge may lead to serious consequences. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy “Hamlet,” Fortinbras, Hamlet, and Laertes’s each show how their desire for revenge unavoidably leads to tragedy. The loss of their loved ones caused these characters in Hamlet to take action. Young Fortinbras has built an army to get back the lands his father lost to King Hamlet and Denmark. His actions can be compared to the measures Hamlet is willing to take upon Claudius. Hamlet wants to kill his uncle, Claudius, for killing his father to gain royalty status. Laertes has the same anger as Hamlet killed Polonius, Laertes’s father. Laertes uses all the power he has to get revenge on Hamlet. The corruption of these characters result the deaths of each major character.
Imagine a play in which a prince is seeking revenge of his father’s murder and ultimately succeeds. Now, imagine a play with the same plot, but with young love, dramatic scenes denying this love, and true madness that leads to suicide. Which sounds better? Which would hold your attention longer? Odds are that the second play described is the choice you have chosen or unknowingly chosen in your thoughts. If it is not, then you would be missing out on one of the most famous plays written by William Shakespeare. Both plays described have the fundamental plot of this Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but only the second is the true play that Shakespeare intended to be performed. Only the second play includes the young, lovesick and distraught Ophelia who separates the first described play from the second. Ophelia may not be the star of the play like Hamlet, but through her transformation into a state of madness along with her role in the only true romance in the play, we learn more about several characters and remain intrigued in the play.
Many scholars classify William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark as a revenge tragedy, a genre popular during the Elizabethan era (Gainor 41). Shakespeare's tragedy focuses on three sons–Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras–seeking retribution for the unfortunate death of their fathers– King Hamlet, Polonius, and King Fortinbras respectively. In the play, the father-son relationship is the primary motivator for each son's revenge. Because Elizabethan society places a strong emphasis on the relationship between father and son, each son feels obligated to right his father's wrongs. According to Fredric B. Tromly, author of Fathers and Sons in Shakespeare: The Debt Never Promised, “A defining . . . feature of Shakespeare’s depiction of ambivalent sons is their rescue of their fathers At the risk of their own lives, these sons . . . attempt to rescue the paternal name and legacy" (Tromly 9). In order to maintain the reputation of his father, each son willingly takes on his duty avenge his father. Although each son attempts to revenge his father in the tragedy Hamlet, only Fortinbras succeeds, for he not only avenges his father's death but also maintains his father's legacy.
The theme of the play Hamlet can unmistakably be determined. Revenge, rage, and tragedy circulate throughout the play. Hamlet’s rage and revenge for his father’s death blinds him from rationality, and it drives him mad. Laertes sought revenge for his father’s death, and his main target was Hamlet. Finally, the dominos come to a standstill when Hamlet, Claudius, Laertes, and Gertrude pay the price of death. On page 151 of Brightest Heaven of Invention, there is a sentence that exudes the theme of Hamlet, “Violent revenge begets further violence.” Therefore, seeking revenge is never the answer to any
Revenge almost always has the makings of an intriguing and tragic story. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a perfect example of how revenge unfolds and what it unveils. The play tells the story of Hamlet, the prince of Denmark. Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, marries his mother soon after his father’s death. Hamlet greatly disapproves of the hasty marriage and suspects foul play. His suspicions are confirmed when the ghost of his father appears and tells him that Claudius murdered him. Hamlet’s father asks him to take revenge upon Claudius, and soon everything takes a drastic change. The courses of revenge throughout Hamlet surround each character with corruption, obsession, and fatality.
Revenge has caused the downfall of many a person. Its consuming nature causes one to act recklessly through anger rather than reason. Revenge is an emotion easily rationalized; one turn deserves another. However, this is a very dangerous theory to live by. Throughout Hamlet, revenge is a dominant theme. Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet all seek to avenge the deaths of their fathers. But in so doing, all three rely more on emotion than thought, and take a very big gamble, a gamble which eventually leads to the downfall and death of all but one of them. King Fortinbras was slain by King Hamlet in a sword battle. This entitled King Hamlet to the land that was possessed by Fortinbras because it was written in a seal'd compact. "…our valiant Hamlet-for so this side of our known world esteem'd him-did slay this Fortinbras." Young Fortinbras was enraged by his father’s murder and sought revenge against Denmark. He wanted to reclaim the land that had been lost to Denmark when his father was killed. "…Now sir, young Fortinbras…as it doth well appear unto our state-but to recover of us, by strong hand and terms compulsative, those foresaid lands so by his father lost…" Claudius becomes aware of Fortinbras’ plans, and in an evasive move, sends a message to the new King of Norway, Fortinbras’ uncle.
Deception, insanity, and revenge are all major themes that are portrayed from the play Hamlet. The main character is believed to be caught in insanity to gain vengeance upon his uncle due to his father’s death. This insanity may appear to be real due the outsiders in this story, it has also been questioned by those who have read it, however, in reality it is all apart of Hamlet’s plan to seek the truth from his father’s ghost, hoping that his uncle will cave in and show his guilt for murdering his father. It is the mask that he wears to get the answer that he wants. Throughout the play Hamlet has plenty of opportunities to fully fulfill his revenge however, a lot of those tries were shot down in simple minded mistakes.Where
According to Collins English Dictionary, revenge can be defined as hurting or punishing someone who has hurt or harmed you. The purpose of this assignment is to break down Francis Bacon’s arguments and argue in favor of Hamlet on why he should avenge his father’s death. Hamlet was commanded by the ghost of his father in Act 1 to avenge his foul and unnatural death.
Hamlet contains three plots of revenge throughout the five acts of the play. Young Hamlet, after getting a shocking realization from his father’s ghost, wants to enact a plot of revenge against his uncle. Laertes, who was struck twice in quick succession by the death of his father and sister, wants to kill Hamlet. Away in Norway, Fortinbras wants to take revenge on the entire nation of Denmark for taking his father’s land and life. These three sons all want the same thing, vengeance, but they go about it in wildly different ways, but as Lillian wilds points out, “he also sees himself in the mirrors of Fortinbras [and] Laertes.”(153) It becomes clear that the parallels presented throughout the play are there to further illuminate the flaws of
Revenge tragedies have certain characteristics that are necessary to follow in order for it to actually be a revenge tragedy. Although there is a long list of characteristics, all of them do not have to actually be in the play for it to be revenge. There are core characteristics that have to be involved; two of them focus on a revenge being planned while including tragic elements.
Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most well-known tragedies. At first glance, it holds all of the common occurrences in a revenge tragedy which include plotting, ghosts, and madness, but its complexity as a story far transcends its functionality as a revenge tragedy. Revenge tragedies are often closely tied to the real or feigned madness in the play. Hamlet is such a complex revenge tragedy because there truly is a question about the sanity of the main character Prince Hamlet. Interestingly enough, this deepens the psychology of his character and affects the way that the revenge tragedy takes place. An evaluation of Hamlet’s actions and words over the course of the play can be determined to see that his ‘outsider’ outlook on society, coupled with his innate tendency to over-think his actions, leads to an unfocused mission of vengeance that brings about not only his own death, but also the unnecessary deaths of nearly all of the other main characters in the revenge tragedy.